Gene Nicholson

Gene Nicholson
Biographical details
Born(1941-06-14)June 14, 1941
Mullins, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 2019(2019-12-30) (aged 78)
Sharon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1962–1963Slippery Rock
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1964–1966Wilmington Area HS (PA) (assistant)
1967–1968Wilmington Area HS (PA)
1969–1971Westminster (PA) (assistant)
1972–1990Westminster (PA) (DC)
1991–1998Westminster (PA)
Golf
2001–2013Westminster (PA)
Head coaching record
Overall64–25–2 (college football)
TournamentsFootball
9–5 (NAIA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 NAIA Division II (1994)
2 MSFA Mideast (1994, 1996)
Awards
Football
NAIA Division II Coach of the Year (1994)

B. Eugene Nicholson (June 14, 1941 – December 30, 2019) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1998, compiling and record of 64–25–2 and winning the NAIA Division II Football National Championship in 1994. Nicholson began his coaching career in 1964 at Wilmington Area High School in New Wilmington as an assistant under Joe Fusco before succeeding him as head coach in 1967. After two seasons as head coach at Wilmington, Fusco moved on to Westminster College as an assistant under Harold Burry, rejoining Fusco, who was also an assistant to Burry.[1] Nicholson was the head men's golf coach at Westminster for 13 seasons until his retirement in 2013. He was also the head coach of the school's swimming, tennis, wrestling, and track teams.[2]

Nicholson was born on June 14, 1941, in Mullins, South Carolina. He spent his childhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Germany, and Brentwood, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1959 from Brentwood High School. Nicholson died on December 30, 2019, at Sharon Regional Medical Center in Sharon, Pennsylvania.[3][4]

Head coaching record

[edit]

College football

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA#
Westminster Titans (NAIA Division II independent) (1991–1993)
1991 Westminster 7–3 L NAIA Division II First Round 5
1992 Westminster 10–1 L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal 1
1993 Westminster 10–3 L NAIA Division II Championship 4
Westminster Titans (Mid-States Football Association) (1994–1997)
1994 Westminster 12–2 4–0 1st (MEL) W NAIA Division II Championship 3
1995 Westminster 4–3–2 2–1–1 3rd (MEL)
1996 Westminster 9–3 5–1 T–1st (MEL) L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal 9
1997 Westminster 9–2 5–1 2nd (MEL) L NAIA First Round 8
Westminster Titans (Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference) (1998)
1998 Westminster 3–8 2–7 12th
Westminster: 64–25–2 18–10–1
Total: 64–25–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final NAIA Division II poll from 1991 to 1996, final NAIA poll in 1997.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nicholson named Westminster aide". New Castle News. New Castle, Pennsylvania. April 15, 1969. p. 14. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "Gene Nicholson to Step Down as Head Men's Golf Coach". Westminster College. May 13, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "B. Eugene Nicholson Obituary". New Castle News. New Castle, Pennsylvania. January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Westminster Mourns the Loss of Hall of Fame Coach Gene Nicholson". Holcad. New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.